Interest Rates on Small Saving Schemes Context: Government may reduce interest rates on small saving schemes for the July - September Quarter. A cut in small savings rates at this point would further hurt households amid a surge in inflation, according to economists. About: Background: · Small savings rates were slashed between 0.5%...
Tax Inspectors Without Borders Programme Context: Recently, the Tax Inspectors without Borders (TIWB), a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the OECD, launched its programme in Bhutan. India was chosen as the Partner Jurisdiction and has provided the Tax Expert for this programme. About: Tax Inspectors Without...
Advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court The Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India can broadly be categorized into three parts: 1. Original Jurisdiction 2. Appellate Jurisdiction 3. Advisory Jurisdiction Article 143 of the Constitution of India confers upon the Supreme Court advisory jurisdiction. Article 143 Power of President to consult...
PM WANI Context Baidebettu to get Wi-Fi connectivity under PM-WANI Baidebettu village in Brahmavar taluk of Udupi district will soon get high-speed Wi-Fi Internet services under the Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme to be executed by HFCL features of the project: The public Wi-Fi Access Network Interface, which...
Gujarat International Maritime Arbitration Centre (GIMAC) Context: Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Gujarat Maritime University and International Financial Services Centre Authority in GIFT (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) City. The objective of the MoU is to jointly support the establishment of the Gujarat International Maritime Arbitration Centre (GIMAC). About: GIMAC: This will be the...
LiDAR Based Survey of Forest Areas Context: Recently, the Union Environment Minister in a virtual event released the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) based survey of forest areas in ten states. The 10 mapped states are Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,...
Agristack: The New Digital Push in Agriculture Context: Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Microsoft to run a pilot programme for 100 villages in 6 states. The MoU requires Microsoft to create a ‘Unified Farmer Service Interface’ through its cloud computing services. This comprises a major part of the ministry’s plan of creating ‘AgriStack’ (a collection...
Pygmy Hog Context: Recently, eight captive-bred pygmy hogs, the world’s rarest and smallest wild pigs, were released in the Manas national Park of Assam. This is the second batch to have been reintroduced into the wild under the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP) in a year. About: Pygmy Hog: Scientific Name: Porcula Salvania ...
Antarctic Treaty Context: Recently, the 60th anniversary of the Antarctic treaty was celebrated. The Antarctic treaty remains the only example of a single treaty that governs a whole continent. It is also the foundation of a rules-based international order for a continent without a permanent population. About: The Antarctic Treaty was signed between 12 countries...
Special Purpose Vehicle for Mission Karmayogi Context: Recently, a three-member task force has been formed to help the government in bringing major bureaucratic reforms through its ambitious “Mission Karmayogi”. About: Special Purpose Vehicle for Mission Karmayogi The Centre has recently approved the 'National Programme for civil Services Capacity Building- Mission Karmayogi' to...
